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Blue Jays cautious, keep Encarnacion on bench

Blue Jays cautious, keep Encarnacion on bench

Edwin Encarnacion

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TORONTO -- Edwin Encarnacion was held out of the Blue Jays' lineup on Friday night because of a sore left wrist.

Encarnacion was hit by a 91-mph pitch from Felix Hernandez during the third inning of Thursday night's game against Seattle. The 29-year-old Encarnacion remained in the game and later homered, but he arrived at Rogers Centre the following day feeling sore.

The injury isn't considered serious and Encarnacion is expected to make his return to the lineup on Saturday afternoon against the Red Sox.

"He's a little sore from getting hit in the wrist," manager John Farrell said. "More than anything, precautionary, he's out."

Encarnacion became just the fifth player in the Major Leagues since 2010 to reach the 40-homer plateau when he went deep off Hernandez on Thursday as part of a five-run fourth inning.

The Dominican native entered play this weekend just one back of Texas' Josh Hamilton for the league lead in homers. Encarnacion also became the fifth player in the big leagues this season to surpass the 100-RBI plateau.

"I think, for me, it's the 100 RBIs," Encarnacion said when asked which had more significance. "It's hard to get 100 RBIs, it's not easy. I never got to 80 [before], so to get to 100 RBIs, not many people make it there, so that's big for me."

Encarnacion is hitting .279 with 40 homers and 102 RBIs in 138 games this season. He also owns a .946 OPS while recording 63 extra-base hits in 498 at-bats.